I've been a huge Drexler fan since I was a kid. He is a criminally underrated player as far as I'm concerned. The best shooting guard of his generation not named Michael Jordan.
@@craigmabry1392When you talk about a Tiger Woods, or a Michael Jordan--two well known examples--you are talking about people who are unrepentant assholes behind the scenes and who probably have some or other abnormal personality disorder- real talk. Not the case at all with Clyde; that bears being noted under a video celebrating Clyde's greatness.
I say this as a huge Jordan fan--Clyde was CRIMINALLY underrated. He could do anything on the court, and was a class act on and off it. He, MJ and Dominique Wilkins were the most explosive, exciting players back then, IMO.
I like your comment. I think if Clyde was utilized in Houston as he was in Portland, he would have been greater. His post game was great against MJ because he could overpower him. When Scottie had to defend him, he could out maneuver him.
Clyde is everything to me and the entire reason I’m a life long fan. I’m still chasing that feeling of being a kid watching this man glide through my TV screen.
He was absurdly kind. I was living in Oregon at the peak of the Blazers run. I walked up to him on the street and told him how awesome he was. He stopped what he was doing and asked if there was something I wanted him to sign. I didn't have anything so he went to the car and got his own cap and signed it for me. Then he sat there and asked me about myself and what I did. I also met Kevin Duckworth. He was really nice too.
“Clyde the glide” Drexler was one of my all time fav players as a kid in the 80’s who grew up in Chicago as a Bulls fan. The only time I didn’t root for the Blazers, was when they met the Bulls in the finals. Portland had SUCH an awesome team back then. Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth, Terry Porter, to name a few. Still to this day I root for the Blazers.
So true bout that team. For modern fans it's hard for them to look at a team with a bunch of dudes averaging double-figs, but just barely double figs aside for a couple of them, and think that that team was stacked. However, that 91 Blazers team specifically, when they traded and brought in an old, but still solid scoring wing to add to their bench scoring, in Walter Davis, that team may have been the best team to never win it all. And what's crazy, they didn't even make it outa the west that year the way they did the year earlier and then the following season. They lost to the effin Lakers, who still had Magic - yes, but at that time weren't nearly as good at Portland was. As a lifelong Blazers fan who absolutely hated Jordan, I think the fact that MJ and those Bulls teams in the early 90's who won three in a row, when you had teams that may not be considered "super-teams" cuz they didn't have a bunch of all-stars, but were FAR deeper than any teams you see today - from The Blazers, to the Suns, to the Cavs, to the Rockets, to Pistons, to the Knicks, to the Lakers, to the Jazz, and to the Celts - is why he's easily the greatest player ever. No discussion! To win 3 in a row in that era, is effin mind-blowing for anyone who lived through it. Nowadays people act as if the Bulls dominated everyone they played back then, when in reality they didn't. There was a hell of a lot of parity at the top of the league in that era, and yet they still won 3!
After this Blazers team when Pipen went there, they had another stacked team that lost to the Kobe and Shaq Lakers!!!! Scottie Pipen, Damon Stadamire, Steve Smith, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant, Jermaine O’Neal, Bonzi Wells and had a starting center that could shoot 3’s to take Shaq away from the rim. They was robbed from the championship just like the Chris Webber Sacramento Kings!!
I agree Clyde was one of the most underrated players ever. He did so many great things out there. Also, he was a very exciting player and seemed like a good guy. I never understood why people didn’t give him more credit.
To this day, I don't think I've loved a player more than Clyde. That man was my hero. An absolutely dominant force in Portland. I was so sad to see him go and as a Portlander myself - and always a Blazer fan - I never had the same love or excitement for the team.
Those trailblazers teams of the 90s got me into basketball. They might not have won championships but they were a very winning team and they had that feel of being a cast of characters, even a fat guy named Duckworth lol.
We’re living parallel basketball lives! Clyde was everything to me as a kid. Him and uncle Cliffy. It was magical watching those teams as a boy. I couldn’t wait to get out on the court to do my best Drexler impression as soon as games had ended. Thanks for sharing!!
As a Rockets fan thank you so much for letting us Finally get to see Phi Slamma Jamma make an appearance in the NBA. He was even greater when he was in Portland 🔥🔥🔥 - I hate that Jordan tries to undermine him decades later.
Sure, he went to Houston and won and hasn't had much to do with Portland since, but Clyde was absolutely the most iconic and influential Blazer for an entire generation of fans. Just an incalculable impact in Portland, one of our unquestioned Big 3 along with Walton and Lillard. Despite Dame's success, Drexler still sits atop many of Portland's all-time leaderboards: most games & minutes played, most FG made & attempted, most steals - even most offensive rebounds!
Being from the same neighborhood and high school as Clyde Drexler, I was a fan of him growing up. I’m heard so many stories about his athleticism by my own family members that attended high school with him. He was a quiet all-around nice guy that was charitable to the city. Loved that he had the chance to retire in Houston.
Drexler was totally awesome, and I had the good fortune to watch a lot of his games in Portland. Two finals with losses, and then a win in Houston. Most folks in Portland still revere him today! Never got the full national attention in the 80s and 90s due to not being in one of the several huge markets, but all the same people know about his today.
Clyde was an exciting player to watch. He had a high-arching finger roll that rivaled George Gervin's, the athletic abilities of MJ, the dunk force of Dominique, and a smooth style of play all his own.
Clyde was a beast back in the day. His Portland teams won more playoff games any other team I can think of. They had some crazy streak like 14 years in a row making the playoffs. What a player he was.
I saw CLYDE at the Fonde' recreation center in Houston, Tx in 1985 as me and my friend Dedan were sitting next to Moses Malone, saw CLYDE TRULY GLIDE FROM THE TOP OF THE KEY, HE GOT A RUNNING START from out of bounds. After Clyde slammed dunked the ball he asked Moses ",how was that? Moses responded I give that a 3, Clyde grabbed his crouch, MOSES SAID I GIVE THAT A 2.😂😂😂
Man I love these videos man.... I hear and see names that I haven't heard in decades. It all makes me so proud, and quite frankly a bit emotional, to be born at a moment where I could watch this basketball live during my youth.
Clyde's nephew went to our high school and Clyde would sometimes come hang out and mess around shooting after practice. He was a cool guy and seeing him operate in person was mind-blowing. He could turn on that athleticism in an instant.
Just wanted to say I appreciate your content. This is like the 5th video I've clicked on and again, highly entertained and informed. 5 out of 5! that warrants a sub. Keep bringing on the content, my man!
The same thing that made the Glide so likable kept him from taking his game to MJ’s level: he was just too nice of a guy. He lacked that killer instinct. Clyde WANTED to win. Guys like MJ and Kobe HAD to win. That was the difference.
So nevermind the fact one had Pippen as a teammate and the other had Shaq and an all around better team than Drexler had comparative to their eras. We just jump straight to fan boying and say he didn't have a killer instinct. I guess that garbage narrative is why Barry Sanders retired early & didn't win huh?
As he aged he still dominated. Losing that crazy level of athleticism showed everyone just how great a basketball player he was. The man was class. Played both ends and didn’t take a single play off. A real competitor.
He was definitely special. I remember wanting to get a pair of the shoes. He wore back in Portland, kangaroos. They didn’t sell them in the DMV. Later, he switched over to Avia, and it was more attainable. The 80s had a bunch of under marketed players. Definitely a player that would be good in today’s game as well.
My second NBA finals as a JR highschool kid was the year that the Bulls played against the Blazers. I thought that the Blazers could beat the Bulls. I thought that Drexler was more skilled than MJ because They played the same way, were both phenomenal athletes but Clyde was a better shooter. Jordan educated my young brain during that finals. The talk going around was that Clyde was better than MJ because he could shoot 3's. Jordan went out and set the NBA finals record for 3 pointers in a half. RIP that narrative. It was the first time that I realized that the will to win played a huge difference in how a player performs. The will to win is the thing that Jordan, Kobe, and Bird had that set them apart from everyone else. I still love Clyde. The guy was fun to watch.
Drexlers best 3pt shooting year was .363%, while jordan averaged .50% for 17 games when he came out of retirement, and .427 3pt% the entire next year. I think MJ was a way better shooter than Clyde, and he was the best clutch shooter in NBA history.
@@johnthree1611 Did you not read the part where I said that I was in JR highschool? It was my first full season watching the NBA. I might not have known some things....I even pointed out that MJ educated me. Damn. NBA fans are so toxic. They will do anything to argue about shit.
@@Davivd2 , Are your feelings hurt? Are you way too sensitive? Learn to take some constructive criticism. It's hilarious how you can take my comment above as an attack, and get so butthurt.
...I remember the match up as a Bulls fan in Chicago. We knew what Jordan was capable of. Clyde was ready, but Clyde didn't bring the level of 'competition' Jordan brought.
I lived in Portland at the time of the great late 80s/early 90s Blazers teams. Clyde was incredible. Those teams were so much fun to watch. I wish they'd have won a championship.
Clyde's wife was a lawyer. He was also cited by the Blazers as the reason we passed on MJ the following year when we took Sam Bowie. Besides playing with his head down he was also noted for his 3 pointer which had very little if any arc to it. We also had another pretty good nickname on the team for Jerome Kersey... his nickname was Mercy. As Bill Schonley used to say.... Mercy Mercy - Jerome Kersey.
Kersey was my favorite player on that team. Clyde was a close second. Years later when I found out that Adleman never drew up an offensive play around Kersey that it solidified his place. All he was told was play defense, get rebounds, put it back up. I always wondered why it looked like he wanted to tear the rim down… now I know. RIP Mercy Mercy, Jerome Kersey
From my memory Michael Jordan didn't overshadow the other stars notoriety when he was playing. People forget that's the era of basketball cards. We knew all of the stars. It's not like today when 5 stars gets mentioned. They actually became less mentioned after Jordan retired, than when he was playing.
I was 10 when I first saw how Jordan played and instantly became a Bulls fan and saw him as an underdog through those Pistons years. But by the 92 finals I quietly watched as a neutral observer because of Cylde. I even adopted his head down dribbling down the court and remember practising his spin and finger rolls. Such a diverse style & skill set of basketball players we were spoilt with & tried to emulate.
Fun Fact: Clyde Drexler's Family had a BBQ Restaurant here in Houston,Tx. (Drexler's World Famous BBQ) and they made excellent BBQ. It has since closed down and now University of Houston has Drexler's Food court which still serves that famous drexler BBQ.
@@kenw2225 Yes, that's what I meant. By "top 10 all time 2" I meant "top 10 all time shooting guard." I doubt I'd have him in the top 30 of all time players... although I've never made that list, so I don't know for sure.
He's 2nd for me. Yes, I have him above Kobe because Clyde was a better teammate. You can also make an argument for Wade, but just going by what I've seen of both, I give it to Clyde.
I'm from Portland and many don't know how hard he worked to hone his craft. It was not just natural ability or luck, he earned his stature. He knew that one person would not win a championship. Yes, one player can win a game, but not repeatedly. And sooo humble. Great artists do not have to be brash to bring them attention, they are just excellent at what they do.
You're right one player can't win a chip but one coach can. The idiot coach in Portalnd never should have Clyde guard Michael J. Clyde averaged 30 in the regular season, it took all of his energy. He should have anyone guard MJ just let him have his points but let Clyde get his.
Jerome "No Mercy" Kersey was always my guy as a kid living in Eastern Oregon in the early '90s, but it was a lot of fun watching The Glide in action as well. Hell, everyone on those Blazers teams was fun to watch.
If he didn’t play in the Jordan era, he could be part of the GOAT debate. I’m not saying he’s #2, but he would have a legit standing in the discussion.
6:10 It was the opposite; the Bulls and Blazers, minus MJ and Clyde, were comparable teams on paper. In fact, Portland heavily outrebounded (on both ends), drew more FTS, and made more FTS. Turnovers didn't help the Blazers, but what ruined them was horrendous shooting (either due to the Bulls' defense or just poor performance), especially from Clyde, who went 40.7% from the field and 15% from deep (3 out of 20). It's a peculiar notion that Clyde was excellent from 3pts when, in fact, he wasn't and was handily outmatched by MJ for his career in both the regular season and the playoffs (32.7% to 31.8%, and 33.2% to 28.8%.) 7:04 For the series, MJ averaged more assists per game (6.5 to 5.3) and had a higher AST% (30.7% to 25.1%). Why are these people trying to diminish MJ to elevate Clyde? CD was a legendary player, arguably a top-5 SG, but he wasn't flawless; he had disappointing performances like everyone else.
@@RVered , Clyde wasn't a future hall of famer? You think having two hall of famers on a team, with some of the best role players to ever play isn't a good team? I'd call that a super team. Especially once Charles Barkley joined. I would consider having one of the best players as your center and one of the best sg on the same team a super team, it may not be the Lebron 3 plus all star super team, but just having those two would increase the chances of winning a championship by quite a bit.
Clyde Drexler is my all-time favorite player and the first player I watched when I started watching basketball. However, people have to learn what underrated means. Drexler is not underrated. He is a hall of famer, named as one of the 50 greatest players to ever play as well as one of the 75 greatest to ever play, and multiple time all-star. An underrated player is someone who was a good player but did not get the accolades or recognized as such.
great video ,. that portland team was my team . but whats up with the subliminal "sinister" message at the 10: 18 mark , or somewhere around that point ?
Selecting Sam Bowie in the 1984 NBA Draft was a big mistake for the Blazers. If they had drafted Michael Jordan, he might have led the Blazers to multiple championships with Clyde Drexler.
@RaiderGannon12 I don't think MJ would've cared about the market, because he was a Nike guy and their HQ is up there in Oregon. He was also incredibly stubborn and wouldn't shirk the challenges of making that team as great as the Bulls became.
We can all say that the Blazers should've drafted Jordan in retrospect, but realistically, you've got arguably the best shooting guard in the league, do you draft his replacement or a big man to pair him with? If I'm the GM for that team, I'm looking harder at Barkley than I am at Jordan. Yeah, it might sound wrong considering MJ winds up being the GOAT, but you can argue that pairing Barkley with Drexler early in their careers means the Blazers beat the Pistons in the finals.
@@maldad9073 I remember at the Bulls parade after the Bulls won there 2nd championship beating the Blazers, he said was glad the Blazers didn't draft him
Drexler is my favorite player of all time and its funny how in recent years NBA players have treated like he wasnt that good. Watch his highlight reels. He was amazing and one of the most humble guys you ever met. I worked on an NBA video with him and he's was the nicest fellow you ever met.
"Clyde was just as good as me, he just didn't know how to play the game. You know what I mean." It's deeper than people realize and why players like Lebron are given rides to the top before he even dribbles a ball in the league.
Lebron was THAT guy. If you know basketball and saw him play in high school, it was so obvious even Stevie Wonder could see his greatness. I agree with your point I just don't get why people throw backhanded shade at lebron this way
Lebron was that guy but also was given a helicopter ride to the top and it's why so many current and past players despite him for it. He clearly has the talent to earn it but even now the media crucifies anyone who questions Lebron. Also if his team wins, it's cause of his greatness but if they lose, it's everyone else's fault but his. Trust me, that's why people are tired of him. @@joshuastinson3013
Always loved Clyde when I was young. He was always calm and quiet. He let his game do the talking. I’m so glad I grew up watching that era. It was exciting
Mitch was one of the best under-the-rim players of all time man. Would've loved to have seen what Ron Harper woulda turned into prior to his injury and being traded to the Clips. Cuz in those late 80's Cavs teams, he was looking like the third best SG in the league behind Clyde and MJ along with having the same level of athletic ability. What made Mitch so damn impressive was what he managed to do, while certainly not being unathletic or anything - but was still anything close to the other three guys i mentioned.
Love Clyde. Don't compair him to anyone...- Defensive Grit- A Team 1st leader-World Class Athleticism- Unstoppable Skill Set...Marketing and overcoming obstacles are everything for our American legends . The face of a league must eventually beat all comers Jordan did that. Saw it and loved it. But Clyde never stopped being Clyde- Add champion to his name.-Respect.
If Portland was actually smart, in 83 they were somehow able to draft Drexler at #14. In 84, we all know they had the #2 overall pick, they drafted Bowie, but what if they had drafted Barkley??? A Drexler/Barkley duo throughout the 80s and into the 90s???
Clyde Drexler was the best 2 guard in the NBA next to Jordan who was #1. While playing in Portland which was a very small market, not only Clyde Drexler was an all around unselfish player, but was the most underrated in the league, he wasn't a spotlight vocal leader, to challenge his team mates on the court, but quietly lead by example on the court! I wish that he would have made his trade request houston a year earlier to win 2 championships in Houston to solidify his career since he didn't win any titles in Portland after 2 attempts!
I saw Clyde the first time he was on the court in the NBA. It was a preseason game against Denver. Clyde was so excited to be in the game he was running circles around everybody. You could see that his athletic ability was on another level. Portland had the opportunity the next year to draft Michael Jordan, but they opted to take the center from Kentucky, Sam Bowie, instead. Bowie was plagued by injuries and lasted only about a year in the NBA. Can you imagine Drexler and Jordan together? Sigh. What could have been.
Too many people underestimate Drexler. During his time with Portland, he had the odds against him and he held his own very well. I’m glad he won a championship back in 95 with The Rockets.
Because he wasn't a killer with the the will to win like MJ. You can clearly even see it in the difference in MJ and Clyde eyes and face. He wasn't as selfish as MJ. Dont get it twisted MJ was a great passer and play maker though. Clyde is a good guy. MJ comes to crush you!
@@jordanjenkins1671 did u watch the video? Clyde didn't have the selfishness and will that MJ despite being on a average team. He couldn't be like MJ completely.
I feel like Jordan vs clyde, is very similar to curry vs lillard. Conceptually similar players and both great, and it's not easy to see why one was clearly better when you only go category by category of their games (he can shoot, he can pass he can defend etc.). But the synergy of the skills together and the absolute excellence at certain things vs merely being really good at them makes the difference.
Clyde is a great example of a player whose talent was not maximized because of his era. He became a well above average 3-point shooter… in his 30s. He clearly could have done it earlier if it had been a priority. His efficiency varied a lot year by year probably because, as MJ said, he didn’t understand the game, in the sense that he deferred to coaches who underutilized him or who used him wrong rather than take charge of his team - which is easy to say in retrospect but players had a lot less power then. Of course being a team player can be a huge asset and MJ eventually found that out but you need to really have elite coaching to justify deferring to coaches as your team’s main superstar and Drexler didn’t have that. Plus he was old school in his training and preparation even for the time despite being a tremendous athlete he would have been better if he played today. He would be Ja Morant level at going downhill to the rim but 4 inches taller. He’s underrated for sure especially on defense but also when saying players today are better than players back then Clyde is a great example of how that works because with what we know now that we didn’t know then he could have been so much better with his talent and ability to learn and commitment to sacrifice to win. Clyde Drexler running a modern dribble handoff would have been unstoppable.
Clyde Drexler's the most underrated basketball/NBA player of all-time. He's even more talented than Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. The only real main issue with Clyde Drexler was that his fundamentals were terrible, and he had a terrible coach and a terrible team. If he was able to have the crazy support and training and coaching that MJ and Kobe received, then Clyde would've easily been the best Guard the NBA has ever seen. You're absolutely right about Clyde Drexler...
I've been a huge Drexler fan since I was a kid. He is a criminally underrated player as far as I'm concerned. The best shooting guard of his generation not named Michael Jordan.
Agreed very underrated because he played in the toughest era of basketball. Loved watching him play
Most definitely.
Top 5 or 6 SG of all time!
Clyde was great!!
Thank goodness he didn’t coach very long
He really sucked at that
Loved the line about Clyde's biggest shortcoming was playing in the Jordan era. Nothing but truth there...
Clyde was too nice. Never a killer leader
Clyde was a different kind of athlete, he moved like a Panther.
He had crazy explosiveness but it was graceful.
Clyde was still floating down the court at mach one in his final years
He’s called the glide for a reason
That panther description wow 🔥 so accurate!
So true - MJs game looked beautiful - clyde also was just as smooth and pretty
Drexler moving like a panther is probably the best term ive heard used for him...he was super smooth with it
Clyde was a stud on and off the court. We in portland were lucky to have witnessed his greatness
Portland 😂😂 i hate them. They Should erase ya and bring back Seattle
What is Stud?
What greatness I don't believe Portland won a championship but ok great player
@@edwinhooks not all great players have won. He has 1 with the Rockets.
@@hastensavoir7782 it’s levels Clyde was good Jordan was great Kobe was great get it one got six the other got 5 rings that’s all I’m saying
I'm a Chi-town native and lifelong Bulls guy. Clyde was fucking amazing in the '90s. Cool as jazz
Here-Here !!🙏🏽
My favorite player probably ever. It was rough against MJ but that ring with Houston made me cry of joy as a kid.
I grew up in Portland and I love the bulls but Drexler was absolutely incredible to watch. A great era of basketball.
The one thing many people dont talk about is how Clyde Drexler was off the Court. He was a Well Spoken, Very Respectful, Down to earth kinda Guy.
Absolutely
Why is that noteworthy,l? You didn't expect him to be "well spoken"
@@craigmabry1392 instead of worrying about my comment, how about you worry about that ugly tie in your profile pic. 😂
Much respect for pointing that out!
@@craigmabry1392When you talk about a Tiger Woods, or a Michael Jordan--two well known examples--you are talking about people who are unrepentant assholes behind the scenes and who probably have some or other abnormal personality disorder- real talk. Not the case at all with Clyde; that bears being noted under a video celebrating Clyde's greatness.
I say this as a huge Jordan fan--Clyde was CRIMINALLY underrated. He could do anything on the court, and was a class act on and off it. He, MJ and Dominique Wilkins were the most explosive, exciting players back then, IMO.
I like your comment. I think if Clyde was utilized in Houston as he was in Portland, he would have been greater. His post game was great against MJ because he could overpower him. When Scottie had to defend him, he could out maneuver him.
Clyde is everything to me and the entire reason I’m a life long fan. I’m still chasing that feeling of being a kid watching this man glide through my TV screen.
He was absurdly kind. I was living in Oregon at the peak of the Blazers run. I walked up to him on the street and told him how awesome he was. He stopped what he was doing and asked if there was something I wanted him to sign. I didn't have anything so he went to the car and got his own cap and signed it for me. Then he sat there and asked me about myself and what I did. I also met Kevin Duckworth. He was really nice too.
That's very bizarre
“Clyde the glide” Drexler was one of my all time fav players as a kid in the 80’s who grew up in Chicago as a Bulls fan. The only time I didn’t root for the Blazers, was when they met the Bulls in the finals. Portland had SUCH an awesome team back then. Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth, Terry Porter, to name a few. Still to this day I root for the Blazers.
So true bout that team. For modern fans it's hard for them to look at a team with a bunch of dudes averaging double-figs, but just barely double figs aside for a couple of them, and think that that team was stacked. However, that 91 Blazers team specifically, when they traded and brought in an old, but still solid scoring wing to add to their bench scoring, in Walter Davis, that team may have been the best team to never win it all. And what's crazy, they didn't even make it outa the west that year the way they did the year earlier and then the following season. They lost to the effin Lakers, who still had Magic - yes, but at that time weren't nearly as good at Portland was. As a lifelong Blazers fan who absolutely hated Jordan, I think the fact that MJ and those Bulls teams in the early 90's who won three in a row, when you had teams that may not be considered "super-teams" cuz they didn't have a bunch of all-stars, but were FAR deeper than any teams you see today - from The Blazers, to the Suns, to the Cavs, to the Rockets, to Pistons, to the Knicks, to the Lakers, to the Jazz, and to the Celts - is why he's easily the greatest player ever. No discussion! To win 3 in a row in that era, is effin mind-blowing for anyone who lived through it. Nowadays people act as if the Bulls dominated everyone they played back then, when in reality they didn't. There was a hell of a lot of parity at the top of the league in that era, and yet they still won 3!
After this Blazers team when Pipen went there, they had another stacked team that lost to the Kobe and Shaq Lakers!!!! Scottie Pipen, Damon Stadamire, Steve Smith, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant, Jermaine O’Neal, Bonzi Wells and had a starting center that could shoot 3’s to take Shaq away from the rim. They was robbed from the championship just like the Chris Webber Sacramento Kings!!
So it ain’t true that MJ didn’t play against weak teams?
It's amazing to see how Clyde just 'went at' MJ with no fear. Not many players during that time was able to do that! Clyde's Finger Roll was SWEET
I heard that Clyde wasn’t as motivated as Jordan. It’s very possible Clyde could have been even better had he been more motivated like Jordan was.
@@thepsychedelicmicroscope4688kobe was the rare guy who wasnt scared of mike AND was just as motivated.
@@thepsychedelicmicroscope4688 Clyde was a chill dude it seems
@@thepsychedelicmicroscope4688wish we would have got to see Len Bias
as a Rockets fan, we absolutely love Clyde
I agree Clyde was one of the most underrated players ever. He did so many great things out there. Also, he was a very exciting player and seemed like a good guy. I never understood why people didn’t give him more credit.
To this day, I don't think I've loved a player more than Clyde. That man was my hero. An absolutely dominant force in Portland. I was so sad to see him go and as a Portlander myself - and always a Blazer fan - I never had the same love or excitement for the team.
Those trailblazers teams of the 90s got me into basketball. They might not have won championships but they were a very winning team and they had that feel of being a cast of characters, even a fat guy named Duckworth lol.
We’re living parallel basketball lives! Clyde was everything to me as a kid. Him and uncle Cliffy. It was magical watching those teams as a boy. I couldn’t wait to get out on the court to do my best Drexler impression as soon as games had ended. Thanks for sharing!!
As a Rockets fan thank you so much for letting us Finally get to see Phi Slamma Jamma make an appearance in the NBA. He was even greater when he was in Portland 🔥🔥🔥
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I hate that Jordan tries to undermine him decades later.
Ta@@Will_Moffett ❤3...8 Yvonne z 6t I think I have r ghkp
For me, it's Clyde Drexler and Steph Curry. The 2 players I wanted to see the most
Sure, he went to Houston and won and hasn't had much to do with Portland since, but Clyde was absolutely the most iconic and influential Blazer for an entire generation of fans. Just an incalculable impact in Portland, one of our unquestioned Big 3 along with Walton and Lillard. Despite Dame's success, Drexler still sits atop many of Portland's all-time leaderboards: most games & minutes played, most FG made & attempted, most steals - even most offensive rebounds!
What an amazing player and what a great person! A gentleman in and out the court
Being from the same neighborhood and high school as Clyde Drexler, I was a fan of him growing up. I’m heard so many stories about his athleticism by my own family members that attended high school with him. He was a quiet all-around nice guy that was charitable to the city. Loved that he had the chance to retire in Houston.
Ross Shaw sterling raiders!!
Any stories you can share??
I was a huge Drexler fan, I liked his cool attitude and his unique style of play
So did I.
Clyde was a class act, period. I grew up a Bulls fan but loved and feared Clyde, he was so good and a Jordan 2.
As a Bulls fan, I have to say that this Portland team was criminally underrated.
Yeah, how many times did they go to the Finals, like 3 times? They were a fun team to watch, especially Clyde of course.
Why do you think so
1990 and 1992, WCF in 1991 and lost to Lakers who went on to face the Bulls in the Finals.
They were so deep at guard that drazden petrovic sat on the bench. Look him up kids
Then dude gets traded to NJ and BALLS OUT!!! Sadly, his career ended prematurely.
i think the sentence " If it wasn't for Jordan"....can be applied to every hof'er who played in the 90's.
So true. Great point!
Well, except for Pippen.
Drexler had to Deal with Olajuwon and Malone in the West and of course Jordan in the Finals. Tough sledding
Except Hakeem
Payton and Kemp would’ve had at least one. All those damn sonics teams in the 90s. Kinda like the mariners lol
Drexler was totally awesome, and I had the good fortune to watch a lot of his games in Portland. Two finals with losses, and then a win in Houston. Most folks in Portland still revere him today! Never got the full national attention in the 80s and 90s due to not being in one of the several huge markets, but all the same people know about his today.
Clyde was an exciting player to watch. He had a high-arching finger roll that rivaled George Gervin's, the athletic abilities of MJ, the dunk force of Dominique, and a smooth style of play all his own.
Clyde the Glide was smooth like dat! 🤠😎👊🏾👍🏾🏀
Clyde is Jordan with out the me first play and marketing.... definitely one of the most underrated players of all time
...and I'd say without the unhealthy win at ANY cost mindset also.
This is what jordan meant by he didn't know how to play the game the media n marketing
loved when Clyde put the moves on Jordan... not many could do that and make it look easy 😉
Clyde was a beast back in the day. His Portland teams won more playoff games any other team I can think of. They had some crazy streak like 14 years in a row making the playoffs. What a player he was.
I saw CLYDE at the Fonde' recreation center in Houston, Tx in 1985 as me and my friend Dedan were sitting next to Moses Malone, saw CLYDE TRULY GLIDE FROM THE TOP OF THE KEY, HE GOT A RUNNING START from out of bounds. After Clyde slammed dunked the ball he asked Moses ",how was that? Moses responded I give that a 3, Clyde grabbed his crouch, MOSES SAID I GIVE THAT A 2.😂😂😂
The Glide was fun to watch and one hell of a basketball player all the way around.
Man I love these videos man.... I hear and see names that I haven't heard in decades. It all makes me so proud, and quite frankly a bit emotional, to be born at a moment where I could watch this basketball live during my youth.
Longtime Blazer fan here...great video on one of the most underrated ever!
Clyde.....the Glyde
So powefull, strong and elegant...with finesse.
A difficult mixture to find ever!
Clyde's nephew went to our high school and Clyde would sometimes come hang out and mess around shooting after practice. He was a cool guy and seeing him operate in person was mind-blowing. He could turn on that athleticism in an instant.
Clyde was a great player. Smooth as silk
Just wanted to say I appreciate your content. This is like the 5th video I've clicked on and again, highly entertained and informed. 5 out of 5! that warrants a sub. Keep bringing on the content, my man!
The same thing that made the Glide so likable kept him from taking his game to MJ’s level: he was just too nice of a guy. He lacked that killer instinct. Clyde WANTED to win. Guys like MJ and Kobe HAD to win. That was the difference.
So nevermind the fact one had Pippen as a teammate and the other had Shaq and an all around better team than Drexler had comparative to their eras. We just jump straight to fan boying and say he didn't have a killer instinct. I guess that garbage narrative is why Barry Sanders retired early & didn't win huh?
Love the new, frequent content 😂
As he aged he still dominated. Losing that crazy level of athleticism showed everyone just how great a basketball player he was. The man was class. Played both ends and didn’t take a single play off. A real competitor.
He was definitely special. I remember wanting to get a pair of the shoes. He wore back in Portland, kangaroos. They didn’t sell them in the DMV. Later, he switched over to Avia, and it was more attainable. The 80s had a bunch of under marketed players. Definitely a player that would be good in today’s game as well.
In NYC, a whole generation were rocking Kangaroos for their cool factor! Clyde put em on TV.
Thanks!
My second NBA finals as a JR highschool kid was the year that the Bulls played against the Blazers. I thought that the Blazers could beat the Bulls. I thought that Drexler was more skilled than MJ because They played the same way, were both phenomenal athletes but Clyde was a better shooter. Jordan educated my young brain during that finals. The talk going around was that Clyde was better than MJ because he could shoot 3's. Jordan went out and set the NBA finals record for 3 pointers in a half. RIP that narrative. It was the first time that I realized that the will to win played a huge difference in how a player performs. The will to win is the thing that Jordan, Kobe, and Bird had that set them apart from everyone else. I still love Clyde. The guy was fun to watch.
Yessir. I remember thinking "Damn, Bulls VS Clyde", and that it would be a crazy match-up.
Drexlers best 3pt shooting year was .363%, while jordan averaged .50% for 17 games when he came out of retirement, and .427 3pt% the entire next year. I think MJ was a way better shooter than Clyde, and he was the best clutch shooter in NBA history.
@@johnthree1611 Did you not read the part where I said that I was in JR highschool? It was my first full season watching the NBA. I might not have known some things....I even pointed out that MJ educated me. Damn. NBA fans are so toxic. They will do anything to argue about shit.
@@Davivd2 , Are your feelings hurt? Are you way too sensitive? Learn to take some constructive criticism. It's hilarious how you can take my comment above as an attack, and get so butthurt.
...I remember the match up as a Bulls fan in Chicago. We knew what Jordan was capable of. Clyde was ready, but Clyde didn't bring the level of 'competition' Jordan brought.
I lived in Portland at the time of the great late 80s/early 90s Blazers teams. Clyde was incredible. Those teams were so much fun to watch. I wish they'd have won a championship.
Clyde's wife was a lawyer. He was also cited by the Blazers as the reason we passed on MJ the following year when we took Sam Bowie. Besides playing with his head down he was also noted for his 3 pointer which had very little if any arc to it. We also had another pretty good nickname on the team for Jerome Kersey... his nickname was Mercy. As Bill Schonley used to say.... Mercy Mercy - Jerome Kersey.
Kersey was my favorite player on that team. Clyde was a close second. Years later when I found out that Adleman never drew up an offensive play around Kersey that it solidified his place. All he was told was play defense, get rebounds, put it back up. I always wondered why it looked like he wanted to tear the rim down… now I know.
RIP Mercy Mercy, Jerome Kersey
Imagine the fear of any defender when Clyde and Jerome were leading a fast break!
Awesome Throwback 🙏🏽
From my memory Michael Jordan didn't overshadow the other stars notoriety when he was playing. People forget that's the era of basketball cards. We knew all of the stars. It's not like today when 5 stars gets mentioned. They actually became less mentioned after Jordan retired, than when he was playing.
I was 10 when I first saw how Jordan played and instantly became a Bulls fan and saw him as an underdog through those Pistons years. But by the 92 finals I quietly watched as a neutral observer because of Cylde. I even adopted his head down dribbling down the court and remember practising his spin and finger rolls. Such a diverse style & skill set of basketball players we were spoilt with & tried to emulate.
I started dunking over people from the free throw line because of Drexler.
Spoiled
Born and raised in Portland and started watching hoops in the 80s. I absolutely love Clyde.
Fun Fact: Clyde Drexler's Family had a BBQ Restaurant here in Houston,Tx. (Drexler's World Famous BBQ) and they made excellent BBQ. It has since closed down and now University of Houston has Drexler's Food court which still serves that famous drexler BBQ.
Clyde was a hell of a player and the only reason he doesn’t have more championships is cause of Jordan. But I’m glad he did win a championship in 95.
Thanks for this... he's definitely one of the under-appreciated players of that era. He's a lock as a top 10 all time 2.
Nope
@@Warmwinterz Who are the 10 you would take before him?
Top ten players? Not even close. Top ten sg ? Top ten his position? Yes sure, absolutely
@@kenw2225
Yes, that's what I meant. By "top 10 all time 2" I meant "top 10 all time shooting guard."
I doubt I'd have him in the top 30 of all time players... although I've never made that list, so I don't know for sure.
He's 2nd for me. Yes, I have him above Kobe because Clyde was a better teammate. You can also make an argument for Wade, but just going by what I've seen of both, I give it to Clyde.
Excellent Video! Clyde is my all time favorite player!
I'm from Portland and many don't know how hard he worked to hone his craft. It was not just natural ability or luck, he earned his stature. He knew that one person would not win a championship. Yes, one player can win a game, but not repeatedly. And sooo humble. Great artists do not have to be brash to bring them attention, they are just excellent at what they do.
Even Jordan couldn't win a championship by himself! He had to get help.
You're right one player can't win a chip but one coach can. The idiot coach in Portalnd never should have Clyde guard Michael J. Clyde averaged 30 in the regular season, it took all of his energy. He should have anyone guard MJ just let him have his points but let Clyde get his.
Thank U for giving one of my FAVOURITE players his well-deserved props!!!💥💥💥💐👊🏽
Drexler was an unselfish player and should be given credit for being a good teammate.
great stuff, as always, Sean David
Jerome "No Mercy" Kersey was always my guy as a kid living in Eastern Oregon in the early '90s, but it was a lot of fun watching The Glide in action as well.
Hell, everyone on those Blazers teams was fun to watch.
Loved Kersey also Cliff Robinson who was in my opinion the best 6th man of all time. They both died way too young. RIP
@@ryanc9888 Yep. I loved Uncle Cliffy, too. Lots of great players on those teams that were fun to watch.
Sean I just love watching your vids man. Appreciate you.
I miss that Blazers team…Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Duckworth, etc.
He was unbelievably graceful ....a great watch .
So we gon just gloss over craig hodges comment about mj saying " clyde didnt kno how to play the game"? So clyde didnt take the brotherhood oath 🤫
Clyde was too nice. Never a killer leader. Bridesmaid most of the time.
Yeah. I want an explanation of what he meant.
@DPMusicStudio Clyde didn't do everything Stern wanted to promote the NBA. Jordan said the same thing about Barkley
If he didn’t play in the Jordan era, he could be part of the GOAT debate. I’m not saying he’s #2, but he would have a legit standing in the discussion.
6:10 It was the opposite; the Bulls and Blazers, minus MJ and Clyde, were comparable teams on paper. In fact, Portland heavily outrebounded (on both ends), drew more FTS, and made more FTS. Turnovers didn't help the Blazers, but what ruined them was horrendous shooting (either due to the Bulls' defense or just poor performance), especially from Clyde, who went 40.7% from the field and 15% from deep (3 out of 20). It's a peculiar notion that Clyde was excellent from 3pts when, in fact, he wasn't and was handily outmatched by MJ for his career in both the regular season and the playoffs (32.7% to 31.8%, and 33.2% to 28.8%.)
7:04 For the series, MJ averaged more assists per game (6.5 to 5.3) and had a higher AST% (30.7% to 25.1%).
Why are these people trying to diminish MJ to elevate Clyde? CD was a legendary player, arguably a top-5 SG, but he wasn't flawless; he had disappointing performances like everyone else.
And he had to join a super team to win a championship.
@@johnthree1611 The Rockets were not a superteam. They were 6th in the West with one all-star, who was 32. And Clyde was 33 and no longer an all-star.
@@RVered , They had a very good team, and multiple hall of famers
@@johnthree1611 Hakeem was the only future HoF, besides the coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. The Rockets were Hakeem + role players to fit around Hakeem.
@@RVered , Clyde wasn't a future hall of famer? You think having two hall of famers on a team, with some of the best role players to ever play isn't a good team? I'd call that a super team. Especially once Charles Barkley joined. I would consider having one of the best players as your center and one of the best sg on the same team a super team, it may not be the Lebron 3 plus all star super team, but just having those two would increase the chances of winning a championship by quite a bit.
The amount of times MJ "took offence to that" 💀
Clyde Drexler is my all-time favorite player and the first player I watched when I started watching basketball. However, people have to learn what underrated means. Drexler is not underrated. He is a hall of famer, named as one of the 50 greatest players to ever play as well as one of the 75 greatest to ever play, and multiple time all-star. An underrated player is someone who was a good player but did not get the accolades or recognized as such.
Great Job the good old days!
great video ,. that portland team was my team . but whats up with the subliminal "sinister" message at the 10: 18 mark , or somewhere around that point ?
Loved his game, plus one of the greatest nicknames. Respect
Selecting Sam Bowie in the 1984 NBA Draft was a big mistake for the Blazers.
If they had drafted Michael Jordan, he might have led the Blazers to multiple championships with Clyde Drexler.
I don't think Jordan would have stayed on the Blazers, after his contract was up he would have gone to a big market team.
@RaiderGannon12 I don't think MJ would've cared about the market, because he was a Nike guy and their HQ is up there in Oregon. He was also incredibly stubborn and wouldn't shirk the challenges of making that team as great as the Bulls became.
that would be a weird world to live in
We can all say that the Blazers should've drafted Jordan in retrospect, but realistically, you've got arguably the best shooting guard in the league, do you draft his replacement or a big man to pair him with? If I'm the GM for that team, I'm looking harder at Barkley than I am at Jordan.
Yeah, it might sound wrong considering MJ winds up being the GOAT, but you can argue that pairing Barkley with Drexler early in their careers means the Blazers beat the Pistons in the finals.
@@maldad9073 I remember at the Bulls parade after the Bulls won there 2nd championship beating the Blazers, he said was glad the Blazers didn't draft him
Here in Portland he was and still is a legend!
First things first, find out what a Mirrow is
Cross between a mirror and a window
…I think
Lol was thinking the same thing when I saw the title 😂😂😂
We typing out our lisps these days
1:38 “somewhat of a mirrow of me in a sense…”
@@DG-ee9hi buddy, still got no clue what that means
Most underrated, My Man❤!
Whats with the sinister subliminal. Editing error? 10:20
Heard? I saw it too.
Drexler is my favorite player of all time and its funny how in recent years NBA players have treated like he wasnt that good. Watch his highlight reels. He was amazing and one of the most humble guys you ever met. I worked on an NBA video with him and he's was the nicest fellow you ever met.
"Clyde was just as good as me, he just didn't know how to play the game. You know what I mean." It's deeper than people realize and why players like Lebron are given rides to the top before he even dribbles a ball in the league.
Lebron was THAT guy. If you know basketball and saw him play in high school, it was so obvious even Stevie Wonder could see his greatness.
I agree with your point I just don't get why people throw backhanded shade at lebron this way
Lebron was that guy but also was given a helicopter ride to the top and it's why so many current and past players despite him for it. He clearly has the talent to earn it but even now the media crucifies anyone who questions Lebron. Also if his team wins, it's cause of his greatness but if they lose, it's everyone else's fault but his. Trust me, that's why people are tired of him. @@joshuastinson3013
Always loved Clyde when I was young. He was always calm and quiet. He let his game do the talking. I’m so glad I grew up watching that era. It was exciting
Drexler Jordan and Richmond were crazy in the 90s
Mitch was one of the best under-the-rim players of all time man. Would've loved to have seen what Ron Harper woulda turned into prior to his injury and being traded to the Clips. Cuz in those late 80's Cavs teams, he was looking like the third best SG in the league behind Clyde and MJ along with having the same level of athletic ability. What made Mitch so damn impressive was what he managed to do, while certainly not being unathletic or anything - but was still anything close to the other three guys i mentioned.
Love Clyde. Don't compair him to anyone...- Defensive Grit- A Team 1st leader-World Class Athleticism- Unstoppable Skill Set...Marketing and overcoming obstacles are everything for our American legends . The face of a league must eventually beat all comers Jordan did that. Saw it and loved it. But Clyde never stopped being Clyde- Add champion to his name.-Respect.
If Portland was actually smart, in 83 they were somehow able to draft Drexler at #14. In 84, we all know they had the #2 overall pick, they drafted Bowie, but what if they had drafted Barkley??? A Drexler/Barkley duo throughout the 80s and into the 90s???
I literally just said that in another comment!
Loved this episode 👏🏻👏🏻
I have Clyde as the third best nba shooting guard of all time, after Jordan, and Kobe.
Clyde Drexler was the best 2 guard in the NBA next to Jordan who was #1. While playing in Portland which was a very small market, not only Clyde Drexler was an all around unselfish player, but was the most underrated in the league, he wasn't a spotlight vocal leader, to challenge his team mates on the court, but quietly lead by example on the court! I wish that he would have made his trade request houston a year earlier to win 2 championships in Houston to solidify his career since he didn't win any titles in Portland after 2 attempts!
Drexler was amazing
I saw Clyde the first time he was on the court in the NBA. It was a preseason game against Denver. Clyde was so excited to be in the game he was running circles around everybody. You could see that his athletic ability was on another level. Portland had the opportunity the next year to draft Michael Jordan, but they opted to take the center from Kentucky, Sam Bowie, instead. Bowie was plagued by injuries and lasted only about a year in the NBA. Can you imagine Drexler and Jordan together? Sigh. What could have been.
Pippen is lying as always. He was talking as if Drexler was his matchup in the 92 finals. Jordan guarded Drexler any time they matched up.
Clyde was widely considered to be the 2nd best player after Jordan at the time. He was fun to watch.
He’s in the hall of fame. He’s a top 50 and 75 player. How is he underrated?
Agree. Properly rated.
His skill set is underrated he’s viewed as just a scorer but definitely was way more sorry
Too many people underestimate Drexler. During his time with Portland, he had the odds against him and he held his own very well. I’m glad he won a championship back in 95 with The Rockets.
Jesus Shuttleworth had hair.
Now imagine if Portland had drafted Jordan instead of Sam Bowie. Drexler with Jordan WOW
I wanna know why MJ said Clyde just didn't know to play the game
Because he wasn't a killer with the the will to win like MJ. You can clearly even see it in the difference in MJ and Clyde eyes and face. He wasn't as selfish as MJ. Dont get it twisted MJ was a great passer and play maker though. Clyde is a good guy. MJ comes to crush you!
@@gregorywalker5384 Thats a bad take. By your logic, only Jordan, Bird, Kobe, and Bill Russell knew how to play the game and everybody else didn't.
@@jordanjenkins1671 that's what MJ meant. You wanted to know right?
@@gregorywalker5384 Source?
@@jordanjenkins1671 did u watch the video? Clyde didn't have the selfishness and will that MJ despite being on a average team. He couldn't be like MJ completely.
I loved Drexler...he was a beast..
What MJ means is that Clive didn't have a personality disorder
clyde led his team in points and assists. in THAT era!! one year his numbers were 27pts, 7.5 assts, 7.5 rebs, 2.5 steals, thats a good fucking year!
Clyde Drexler was more talented than MJ but he wasn't anywhere near as fundamentally sound...
He just always seemed so smooooth to me. And then being named Clyde just completed the picture.
I just rewatched the 1992 Dream Team games and it really showcased how good of a player Clyde was.
I feel like Jordan vs clyde, is very similar to curry vs lillard. Conceptually similar players and both great, and it's not easy to see why one was clearly better when you only go category by category of their games (he can shoot, he can pass he can defend etc.). But the synergy of the skills together and the absolute excellence at certain things vs merely being really good at them makes the difference.
The gap between Jordan and Drexler was closer than people realized. ALOT CLOSER.
The difference was mentality, mj was more intense, mj was a better defender, and mj was a better midrange scorer, thats about it
Before the internet, you didn't get national exposure if you played for a small market team
Nobody talking about how Clyde looks younger now than when he was playing?
Thanks for the reminder..this man was nice
Clyde is a great example of a player whose talent was not maximized because of his era. He became a well above average 3-point shooter… in his 30s. He clearly could have done it earlier if it had been a priority. His efficiency varied a lot year by year probably because, as MJ said, he didn’t understand the game, in the sense that he deferred to coaches who underutilized him or who used him wrong rather than take charge of his team - which is easy to say in retrospect but players had a lot less power then. Of course being a team player can be a huge asset and MJ eventually found that out but you need to really have elite coaching to justify deferring to coaches as your team’s main superstar and Drexler didn’t have that. Plus he was old school in his training and preparation even for the time despite being a tremendous athlete he would have been better if he played today. He would be Ja Morant level at going downhill to the rim but 4 inches taller.
He’s underrated for sure especially on defense but also when saying players today are better than players back then Clyde is a great example of how that works because with what we know now that we didn’t know then he could have been so much better with his talent and ability to learn and commitment to sacrifice to win. Clyde Drexler running a modern dribble handoff would have been unstoppable.
Clyde Drexler's the most underrated basketball/NBA player of all-time. He's even more talented than Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. The only real main issue with Clyde Drexler was that his fundamentals were terrible, and he had a terrible coach and a terrible team. If he was able to have the crazy support and training and coaching that MJ and Kobe received, then Clyde would've easily been the best Guard the NBA has ever seen. You're absolutely right about Clyde Drexler...